Quilting, Sewing, Knitting and Cross Stitch Calculators

Divide the usable fabric width by the cut width of one piece to get pieces per strip, divide the pieces you need by that number to get strips, then multiply strips by the strip width and divide by 36. Eighty 5 inch squares fit 8 per strip on 40 inch quilting cotton, so they need 10 strips, about 1 1/2 yards. Always round up to the next 1/8 yard, the smallest cut most shops make.

Batting is cut larger than the quilt top on every side: 2 to 4 inches for quilting on a home machine, and 4 to 6 inches for a longarm. A 90 x 95 inch queen quilt with 4 inches per side needs 98 x 103 inches of batting, which takes a king package, not a queen. Packaged queen batting is usually about 90 x 108 inches, too narrow either way.

Divide the quilt width by the finished block size for blocks across, do the same with the length for blocks down, then multiply. A 90 x 95 inch queen takes 8 by 8 twelve inch blocks, 64 in all, for a 96 x 96 inch top. Sashing and borders reduce the count, because they take up width and length before any block is counted.

Crochet uses about 25 to 33 percent more yarn than knitting for the same size piece, because the stitches are taller and denser. Open stitches such as granny squares, shells and mesh use less than solid single crochet. Whichever you choose, buy 10 to 15 percent more than the estimate and take every skein from one dye lot.